Where is Mike Wenzloff ?

[Carlos Cabrera]

I ordered 2 saws approximately 2 years ago from him and also sent him 3 saw blades to sharpen. I paid for the 2 new saws and some other parts and now I can't reach him and he is not responding to my emails.

Anyone know what happened ?


Carlos

[Rick Rutten]

Same for me. Three saws on order in early May so just coming up on 90 days. His blog on his website said they moved and he told me in an e-mail they had a machine go down. That was after they were one man short. So I am waiting and choosing to trust the type of people you usually find in this hobby. Hope all is well out there. I haven't checked his web site recently. Having just lost my job I can't really look elsewhere for tools. Would be good to hear if anyone has any updates. I'll try to send him an e-mail as well.

Rick

[Andrew Gibson]

I ordered 4 kits from him in April and received them in early may. I want to say that the whole thing took maybe 3 weeks.

I have not heard anything about his buisness sense, but I would give him the benefit of the doubt.

I assume you have been in contact with him in the 2 year period you have been waiting for your saws?

[David Martino]

I ordered a pair of custom back saws from Mike in 2007 and it was two years almost to the day when they arrived. Actually, I ordered one saw and changed direction a couple times, with helpful and informed guidance from Mr. W., which I'm glad I had time to do in retrospect. The saws look and work beautiful(ly) in every way. I guess you could find a better pair of joinery saws somewhere - but I honestly don't see how. I knew about Mike's back-order list and there were a few times when I didn't hear anything for *a while* but since I don't make my living sawing and I was confident in the eventual outcome I didn't mind waiting.

You might try calling if email doesn't work - with his backlog, I imagine it's pretty easy for the inbox to stack up. I think their blog mentions changing shops and online servers recently, which could account for the delay. My impression is that Mike is a gentleman and a craftsman who will stand by his work in every way, and go out of his way to make sure you're happy.

Not affiliated in any way, just an extremely satisfied customer.

[David Weaver]

I also got two kits recently. No wood, just the back and the blades.

Took about 7 or 8 weeks or something.

I would imagine the kits are a lot easier to kick out, thus the speed in getting them.

Finished saws might be fighting against their capacity to keep up stock in retailers that carry their saws, too.

[harry strasil]

Might be like any small business that develops a really good product and gets overwhelmed with orders for the product, and short on people to manufacture said product.

Just be happy and grateful that Mike and Co. still stress QUALITY over quantity. GREED is a plague at times and can make a good product go bad because of short cuts to speed things up.

[Steve LaFara]

I ordered 2 saws approximately 2 years ago from him and also sent him 3 saw blades to sharpen. I paid for the 2 new saws and some other parts and now I can't reach him and he is not responding to my emails.

Anyone know what happened ?


Carlos


Am I reading this right that you PAID for the saws 2 years ago and you've not heard anything? Seems strange to me that you would let it go this long without picking up a phone. Also strange that Mike W. has not sent some sort of message as well. If I ran a business that way, I would have expected to be out of business long before the 2 years was up.

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Carlos

I have known Mike well for several years and can state quite categorically that he is one of the most reliable, honest and approachable people around. He elected to suspend making custom saws a few years ago as he knew his resources were limited, instead focussing on production saws. The waiting list for custom saws was not ignored, however, and Mike has provided updates on his progress. No one on that list has, in my understanding, paid for a saw in advance. If you have done so, there there must have been a serious misunderstanding, or loss of records (possibly the latter). I would contact Mike and sort this out with him. Knowing Mike he would sort it out immediately.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Sandy Stanford]

Hi Carlos

I have known Mike well for several years and can state quite categorically that he is one of the most reliable, honest and approachable people around. He elected to suspend making custom saws a few years ago as he knew his resources were limited, instead focussing on production saws. The waiting list for custom saws was not ignored, however, and Mike has provided updates on his progress. No one on that list has, in my understanding, paid for a saw in advance. If you have done so, there there must have been a serious misunderstanding, or loss of records (possibly the latter). I would contact Mike and sort this out with him. Knowing Mike he would sort it out immediately.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Read the original post.

He has attempted to contact Mike and has not had a reply. Hence, the post here.

"now I can't reach him and he is not responding to my emails."

[Tony Zaffuto]

Did you try reaching Mike by telephone? Have patience, Mike will get back to you. Don't forget his geographic location when you try to reach him, however, you may find it best to reach him very early in the morning (his time). Did Mike confirm receipt of your order? If you didn't prepay for the saws, you may have placed your order at the time when he quit taking custom orders.

I have three saws I had Mike build and I've been pleased with each. They're worth the wait. You can also find Mike's saws available for immediate purchase at Lee Vally and The Best Things.

T.

[Rick Rutten]

I just sent Mike an e-mail the other day as a follow up to my prepaid order and a heads up about this thread. My order is for three saw kits with handles included. I have tried to call but just get the answering machine. With the work for Lee Vallley and the Best Things (?) I imagine he is pretty busy. I'll be sure to post something here if I get a reply.

His blog does have posting as of a few days ago.

Rick

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Carlos

I have PMed you with Mike's email address, just in case you have been using a different one.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Carlos Cabrera]

That is correct It has been almost 2 years and yes he acknowledged payment for the 2 new saws and I sent him 3 saw blades to sharpen. Below is the last thing I heard from him on 8/18/2009. I have always used this email address and he is not responding.

mwenz@wenzloffandsons.com

By the way I knew I had to be patient and that the saws would take long but this is just wrong.

Hi Carlos,

I have begun the last two batches. The last batch are those saws that deviated from the specs in some way (left handed, different woods, etc).
Yours are in the last batch. We've got all yours in-process.

Thank you for your patience.

Take care, Mike

[Sandy Stanford]

That is correct It has been almost 2 years and yes he acknowledged payment for the 2 new saws and I sent him 3 saw blades to sharpen. Below is the last thing I heard from him on 8/18/2009. I have always used this email address and he is not responding.

mwenz@wenzloffandsons.com

By the way I knew I had to be patient and that the saws would take long but this is just wrong.

Hi Carlos,

I have begun the last two batches. The last batch are those saws that deviated from the specs in some way (left handed, different woods, etc).
Yours are in the last batch. We've got all yours in-process.

Thank you for your patience.

Take care, Mike

I'm glad he thanked you for your patience because you've exhibited plenty of it.

[Rick Rutten]

Just got an e-mail from Mike. He says he was not able to spend much time in the shop after his move and is now playing extreme catch up.

Carlos he mentioned that he is having problems PM'ing you through SMC. If you send him an e-mail he may be able to respond directly more easily.

I'll let you know when I get my saws.

Rick

[Jim Barrett]

I ordered 2 saws approximately 2 years ago from him and also sent him 3 saw blades to sharpen. I paid for the 2 new saws and some other parts and now I can't reach him and he is not responding to my emails.

Anyone know what happened ?


Carlos

You have the patience of a Saint...hope it is worth it...and hopefully you will get some type of repayment for your wait!

Jim

[Carlos Cabrera]

Thank you very much Rick and the rest of you. I got an email from Mike today who assures me that the 2 saws and the other stuff will be going out within the next week. I understand he had some health problems and I know what that is like. I just hope I can get what I paid for and I will let everyone know when I receive the long awaited hand saws.

Thanks again Rick and everyone !

Carlos

[David Weaver]

Hopefully, you get what you were waiting for and are completely satisfied.

I would imagine things can get lost for a while with a heavy workload, moving shops, etc.

It doesn't make it less frustrating when it's your stuff, but you can let us know how it works out.

In the meantime, I hope the people who have never dealt with MW can keep their opinions to themselves. I would imagine there are a lot of people with saws in their hands and who have had discussions with mike that allowed them to spec a handsaw exactly as it should be and at least be semi-educated on his time and dime by the time their order is put in.

There's always a pile on from the "fans" when a post like this comes up, and Mike's a guy who just doesn't deserve it. that's not to fault the OP. You've got to do what you've got to do to get your stuff. It is to fault anyone who never had first-hand experience but who thinks it wise to pile on.

[Jack Camillo]

I'm just glad we learned that Mike was still kicking. I'll be ordering a saw from him before that changes.
:)

[Bruce Page]

There's no need for name calling, please keep it friendly folks.